SOUTHEND Saxons survived a shocking start and finish to the game to beat Old Elthamians at Warners Bridge on Saturday.

The win was the Saxons’ fourth National Two South success in their last six outings.

But their director of rugby Chris Green was still not completely satisfied.

“We got five points from the game which is the best you can get but our start to the game was shocking and so was the end,” said Green.

“At the start of the game we conceded two of the softest tries you will ever see.

“Then, at the end we committed suicide to let them get back in to it but thankfully we were still able to come out on top.

“I’m obviously very pleased about that but we do still need to improve because we can’t afford to be giving points away like we are at the moment.”

Southend started sluggishly and went behind after just 10 minutes when Paul Humphries scored a try which was converted by Thomas White.

He then added the extras four minutes later to make it 14-0 after Jon Webber has also touched down.

However, Southend hit back with a penalty from Brad Burr and then closed the gap even further when captain Kris Chesney scored his first try for the club.

Burr added the conversion to cut Old Elthamians’ lead to 14-10 at the break.

Three minutes after the break, Saxons hooker Marcus Bloomberg trundled through for a try which Burr converted to put the hosts 17-14 in front.

But, five minutes later, both teams were reduced to 13 men – with Bloomberg and Aston Bevans-Royston being sin-binned for Southend – after a scuffle broke out after further Saxons pressure.

Almost immediately after the dismissals, Burr jinked his way through and touched down for Southend’s third try of the afternoon.

His conversion made it 24-14 before the hosts went even further in front with a try from Billy Driver which also secured a try scoring bonus points for his side.

The effort seemed to have secured victory for Southend but Old Elthamians piled on the pressure in the final 10 minutes.

As a result, Charles Edwards soon touched down before Webber bagged his second try of the game.

White’s conversion brought the visitors to within three points of Southend.

But the Saxons held firm to earn a hard fought win.

Southend: Billings, Driver, Burr, Vaughan, Nash, Coleman, Taylor, Fardell, Bloomberg, Bevans-Royston, Fombo, Chesney, Jackson, Ferrier, Hudson

Replacements: Cleare, Smith, Day-White, Shields & Pollard